Stories of Self Defense

California Gun Buyback Results in 1,500 Turned in Weapons

A state wide gun “buyback” (never understood that terminology, did California own the guns to begin with in order to ‘buy them back’?) in California netted over 1,500 firearms turned in to various cities.

As is the case with many of these “buybacks,” most of the guns turned in where antiques, broken or non-functioning firearms.

“The buybacks are about taking guns off the street, where they could fall into the hands of criminals or our children,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said at a news conference at the LAPD headquarters.

The program, which has indeed taken almost 12,000 guns off Los Angeles streets since its inception, is supported by victims-rights groups, faith-based organizations and other community groups. This past weekend saw buybacks held in Van Nuys, Wilmington and Elysian Park.

However, the National Association for Gun Rights questioned the value of the efforts.

“So-called gun-buyback programs don’t work,” the organization said. “They do nothing to take guns out of the hands of violent criminals or street-gang members, but they do coerce law-abiding gun owners into turning in their firearms while incentivizing petty criminals to steal more guns for monetary reward.

“Where legal, we encourage gun owners to show up to these buybacks to rescue the worthy firearms from the scrap-metal heap by offering the sellers cash for them.”

Just more “feel good” efforts that will do absolutely nothing to reduce violent crime.